Unite calls for more rights for union health and safety representatives

28 April 2008

On Workers' Memorial Day, Unite, Britain's biggest private sector union, is calling for more rights for union health and safety representatives.

Last weekend, two men died after falling from building sites at Westminster and Wandsworth in London. Construction deaths have risen over the last year and the union is calling for increased rights for union health and safety representatives to inspect sites.

Unite, health and safety officer, Rob Miguel says, "Deaths and injuries in the construction sector are on the increase. We want to make construction sites safer places to work. But we need greater powers for union health and safety representatives to inspect these sites. Increasing their power means reducing the chances of injuries and fatalities in the future. Where union health and safety representatives operate effectively there are 30% less accidents in the workplace."